Contact Us

Kathryn S. Robinett, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Interim Associate Dean for Student Research and Education
Associate Program Director for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Email: KRobinett@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Robinett graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She went on to complete her M.D. at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill she completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine. After that, she returned to the University of Maryland School of Medicine for fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and after fellowship she stayed on as faculty with a specific clinical focus on severe asthma. In addition to her clinical work, she has experience in basic science and clinical research. She also attends in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at both the UMMS Downtown and Midtown. In addition to her clinical work, she is the Assistant Dean for Admissions of the School of Medicine and the Interim Associate Dean for Student Research and Education.

Gregory B. Carey, PhD
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Assistant Dean for Student Research and Education
Executive Director of Student Research and Community Outreach, OSR
Director of PRISM, UM Scholars and STAR-PREP Student Research Programs
Email: GCarey@som.umaryland.edu

As the Executive Director of Student Research and Community Outreach, Dr. Carey oversees and is responsible for medical student research activities, including electives, summer and year-off activities. He oversees recruitment to and advising for the School of Medicine's summer research programs for health professional, undergraduate and high school students. In his outreach roles within the OSR and as a co-chair on the President's Outreach Council, Dr. Carey explores research, mentoring and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) educational opportunities for students at all levels and from broad backgrounds, on and off the UMB campus. In addition, Dr. Carey is the leader (P.I.) of an NIH/NCI-funded research program focused on increasing the understanding of factors that determine life and death decisions in lymphoma and in other cancers. His teaching activities cover both basic and special topics in immunology and oncology in the Graduate School and the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Carey is a member of the Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases (CVID) and of the Greenebaum Cancer Center.

Donald R. (Rick) Matteson, PhD
Associate Professor of Physiology
Assistant Dean for Student Research Education and Dual Degree Programs
Email: DMatteson@som.umaryland.edu

As the Assistant Dean for Dual Degree Programs, Dr. Matteson is responsible for developing, overseeing, and directing all of the MD/MS programs in the School of Medicine. This includes writing and updating the dual degree program descriptions and memoranda of understandings. As the Assistant Dean for Student Research Education, Dr. Matteson serves as the course director for the Foundations of Research and Critical Thinking (FRCT) course, which he developed and launched in the Fall of 2013. He is also the Course Director for GPILS 601 “Mechanisms in Biomedical Sciences” (aka, The Core Course), GPLS 600 “Cellular and Molecular Basis of Translational Research,” and the Summer Bridge Course. He serves as the Physiology Content Lead in the Preclerkship phase of the Renaissance Curriculum. In addition, he is a member of the Department of Physiology.

Shannon Takala Harrison, PhD
Professor, Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health 
FRCT Advisor
Email: STakala@som.umaryland.edu 

Dr. Takala Harrison is a Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology and Public Health at University of Maryland School of Medicine who has >20 years of experience conducting multi-disciplinary translational research. She leads the Genomic Epidemiology Unit within the Malaria Research Program in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health and serves as the Associate Director of the Research Training Tracks within the Center for Advance Research Training and Innovation (CARTI). 

Within the Office of Student Research, Dr. Takala Harrison provides research advising to first-year medical students. She reviews the FRCT requirements and helps students consider their research interests, find potential mentors, and explore possible funding opportunities. 

Fiama Romero, MS
Program Manager
Email: FRomero@som.umaryland.edu

Fiama oversees the day-to-day operations of the OSR and supports OSR faculty in developing, implementing, and promoting new OSR initiatives, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and enhancing the research support students receive. Fiama manages the FRCT course, dual degree programs, student awards and events, and a growing list of summer research and training programs, including PRISM, UM Scholars at SOM, MPower/MDH, and M4I. She’s also the project manager for R-HEALE and assists with operations management for the broader Undergraduate Medical Education. 

Fiama is passionate about advocating for employee needs and improving access to healthcare and education, particularly among underserved communities. Her commitment to advocacy and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion motivated Fiama to run for UMB Staff Senate, where she currently serves as senator and Communications Officer. 

Fatimah Dixon, MPH
Program Coordinator
Email: FDixon@som.umaryland.edu 

Ms. Dixon is responsible for supporting and coordinating major research-related events sponsored by the Office of Student Research, including Medical Student Research Day and summer research events.  She facilitates communication between the office and UMSOM faculty and students and maintains the OSR databases and website.  She also assists Ms. Romero with OSR program management and process improvement initiatives.  She works closely with Dr. Greg Carey in managing research electives and year-off student research experiences.  Ms. Dixon also supports Dr. Matteson with the FRCT Course and Scholarly Project.